I am somewhat biased considering that we in Ireland are bitter about the behaviour of the English press during the World Cup, and the relentless jingoistic crowing that comes with any England success.

I've never really understood that criticism.

I don't see what's wrong with going to a competition wanting to win it. Other countries are just as passionate about it & nobody labels them jingoistic.

Without checking my facts and figures, I think that North Korea recorded one of the greatest upsets ever in the World Cup when they beat Portugal in 1966and Portugal at the time had a great side with Eusebio etc. Saying that though, I don`t think they got a chance in hell of scoring, a goal let alone win a match. Same goes for New Zealand...........amazes me how they got there:confused:

^ That's Italy they beat I think. They were beating Portugal 3-0, but lost 5-3 in the end. With that in mind, the re-match should be an interesting one.

It's Italy you're thinking of re:1966 and Portugal beat them 5-3 after being 3-0 down in one of the best matches ever.

New Zealand got there because of how poor the teams they had to play along the way were in the Oceania group.

Watch/read your own fucking press!










:love:

Yeah it was Italy

The match took place at Middlesbrough's old Ayresome Park ground.

Edit: The winner of the Oceania group used to have to go into a play off with the 4th or 5th place South American team I assume that isn't the case now.

All the same, it'd be dead funny if they qualified from that group with Slovakia.

England as always, have too many mediocre players and not enough world class players like Rooney and Gerrard etc and some really weak areas in the team that any world class side can penetrate, but what they do have is an excellent manager who may just pull it all together. I think they`re looking at the QF`s, which for the English press would be deemed an absolute disaster.

I think England have enough world class players, the biggest problem is that it doesn't really stretch beyond the first choice 11.